5.3 UNOVA
Principle 5
UNOVA is a university-wide transdisciplinary research and development lab founded by Dr
Felix Ter Chian Tan from the School of Information Systems & Technology Management in the Business School . UNOVA provides a platform for collaborative and co-funded public-private research partnerships which contribute significantly towards the goals of the organisation as well as key SDGs ( including crisis management , sustainability and digital healthcare ).
The lab conducts responsible research to inform policies and practices with positive societal impact and delivers solutions that build on beneficial organisational practices . Current projects are contributing to several SDG goals , particularly 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 and 11 .
Current industry partners / clients include the NSW Government ’ s Sustainability Advantage ( which works with organisations to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices ), WooliesX ( an innovation arm of the Woolworths Group ), NBN Co , SAP , CSIRO ( Commonwealth Scientific &
Industrial Research Organisation ), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade , and Flame Security International ( who has developed a range of fire security products that are safe for humans and the environment whilst being highly effective in preventing fire ). UNOVA also actively reports the outcomes of its projects and case studies with other agencies including UNESCAP in Bangkok , ASEAN foundation and the UN University Institute in Macau . With our partners we are completing a series of projects .
UNOVA also supports the industry education program . This is a series of technology projects run by students in collaboration with industry partners and supported by UNSW ’ s Work-Integrated-Learning and Career Accelerator teams . This initiative provides Business School students with professional industry engagement opportunities through project work in information systems courses including
INFS2621 : Enterprise Systems and
INFS2631 Innovation and Technology Management .
5.4 Actuaries Help During Times of Crisis
Researchers from the School of Risk & Actuarial Studies are working with key decision-makers in government and industry to help them understand the full impact of catastrophic events , such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic , and implement viable solutions
“ Ultimately , our work as academics is aimed at contributing to society ... A fantastic way of achieving this is by engaging in collaborative partnerships with industry where we can leverage our respective strengths to evaluate problems from
diverse viewpoints .”
In 2020 , the School and PhD candidate Alan Xian partnered with Australian actuarial and strategic analytics consulting firm
Finity to map vulnerable populations in Australia who are at severe risk if they contract COVID-19 .
The
COVID-19 Susceptibility Index maps co-morbidities ( age , cancer , diabetes , cardiovascular disease , obesity and lung disease ) and actual known multi-dimensional characteristics of individuals in households . The dashboard highlights local postcode ‘ red zones ’ – clusters of co-morbidity risk factors that may have greater potential for severe illness in the case of an outbreak – across the country .
Professor Bernard Wong Head of the School of Risk & Actuarial Studies , UNSW Business School
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